Face harness for microphones



April 1, 1947:

H. C. HORNICKEL FACE HARNESS FOR MICROPHONES Filed Oct. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. HE RMAN C. HORNICKEL April 1947- H. c. HORNICKEL 2,418,120

FACE HARNESS FOR MICROPHONES 2 Sfieets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1943 IN V EN TOR. HERMAN C. HORNlCKEL Patented Apr. 1, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 2,418,120 FACE HARNESS FOR MICROPHONES Herman C. Hornickel, Fair Haven, N. J

Application October 5, 1943, Serial No. 505,022 8 Claims. ((51. 179-156) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a harness for supporting a small microphone, and particularly for supporting a small microphone above the mouth of the individual in combination with various types of protective headgear or protective facial covering.

According to conventional use, microphone supporting harness is not easily adapted to use with gas masks or helmets.

Generally, where microphones are used in connection with helmets, gas masks, or respirators, the microphone is conventionally made a part of the helmet, gas mask, or respirator. Such an assembly would naturally tend to be heavy and awkward. The added inconvenience exists that when removing the helmet or other headgear the microphone is also removed.

While it is true that the throat microphone frees the hands and can be worn apart from the mask or other face covering-it sufiers from the objection that complete intelligibility is not possible because its acoustic range is limited. In some industrial applications where respirators are essential in carrying on the work and where the noise level is high, conversation between workers must be carried on by the use of microphones and same is usually made a part of the respirator unit.

In general, the use of microphones in connection with helmets, gas masks, respirators or other types of protective headgear, the addition of a microphone to these units results in added discomfort and unnecessary fatigue.

There are many other applications, similar to those just mentioned which are familiar to those skilled in the art, that may cause discomfort and distress to the wearer of such equipment.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to overcome the disadvantage of added weight of present type of harness.

A further object is to provide a harness that will permit the use of a microphone close to the source of sound.

Another object is to afford the use of a harness that can be worn under a gas mask, helmet, respirator or other type of protective headgear and facial covering and where the removal of said headgear will not deprive the wearer of the use of the microphone.

A still-further object is to provide a micro- 2 phone harness adjustable to the head size of any wearer.

In accordance with this invention, numerous advantages are made possible because of its unique design. Applicationof the invention to industrial uses and more particularly to work carried on in locations where a high level of noise maintains is very favorable.

It has been the practice under the aforementioned conditions to resort to chest type supported microphones. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that this type of microphone harness is cumbersome and a latent danger of interference in the movements of the worker exists.

However, the invention definitely overcomes this disadvantage. Its unique construction permits placement of the microphone, for which this invention was designed, on the face of the user and in close proximity to his mouth. The close proximity of the microphone to the source of sound is important if intelligible conversation is to be carried on with a minimum of efiort and a maximum of concentration on the task on which the worker is employed.

In some industrial applications, in addition to the use of a microphone, a face mask is used by the worker. Here, the advantage of the invention resides in the fact that any type of facial protection may be used without interference in the use of the microphone and conversely the removal of the mask would not interfere with the continued use of the microphone. In conventional practice the microphone is made a part of the mask. The advantage of the invention in this respect is obvious.

So adaptable is the invention that interference with any type of protective headgear or protective covering is impossible and any type of protective covering may be used in conjunction with the invention.

The invention lends itself admirably to speech amplification in connection with instructions in surgery as the device can be worn under the antiseptic face covering used by the surgeon and assistants without the slightest impairment of free movement and with a high degree of comfort.

The ease with which the invention can be placed on the face of the wearer and its ready adaptability to all types of facial contours is a very definite advantage.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many applications of the invention are possible.

For a better understanding of the invention,

together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings are illustrated various parts of the invention as follows:

Figure 1 illustrates that part of the invention which is placed over the right ear of the wearer,

Figure 2 is that portion of the invention which is placed over the left ear,

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the microphone bracket,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the extrusion of the microphone bracket which retains the microphone in place,

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of the assembled invention,

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of the assembled invention including the microphone,

Figure 7 illustrates a View of the microphone for which this invention was designed and showing that side of the microphone which is in juxtaposition to the microphone bracket, Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a pictorial representation of the invention as used in connection with the microphone for which it was designed.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the invention comprises a right hand strap 4| of molded flexible construction and a loop '43 which is embedded. in strap All at point 42 and threaded through an orifice 44 inthe strap 4|. The strap 4! may preferably be of cotton cloth molded in Vinylite, or it may be of rubber, leather or other suitable construction. The loop 43 is preferably a cotton cord similarly molded in Vinylite. On the free end of loop as is attached a cylindrical covering 45 of sumcient diameter to prevent said loop 4? from slipping out of'the orifice 44 in the strap d5. Molded into the said strap M is a two conductor cable 46 which extends out from the end 41 of strap 4| a predetermined distance. The two conductors 48 in cable 46 which extend out from the end 41 of strap 4| are bared to enable the soldering of same .to the microphone Figure '7 in a manner to be described hereinafter. The cable 45 terminates in a plug 49 of standardmanufacture and that part of the cable 4t which terminates in the said plug 49 extends from point 5!] of strap ti. Pockets 5|,"5l are provided for the insertion of the elongated tips 6|, 6| of the microphone bracket Figure 3. In all respects with the exception of the inclusion of the two conductor cable 46 the left hand strap Figure'2 is identical to theright hand strap 54 illustrated in Figure 1 and comprises a loop 52. inserted at point 53 of strap E i threaded'through the orifice 55, the said loop 52 having appended to its free end a cylindrical covering 56 of sufficient diameter to prevent the free end of loop'fi-z from slipping out of the orifice 55 in the strap at. As in Figure l, the strap 54, Figure 2 containsa pocket 5! into which is inserted'the microphone bracket Figure 3 as described above.

Figure 5 illustrates in plan view-the invention when same is assembled and ready for use. The end portion 51, of strap Eels cemented to the inner surface iii of the microphone bracket Figure 3. The band conductors 63 of cable' it which extend from the end 41 of strap 4| are soldered to the input terminals it? and 7| of "the microphone Figure'Z.

Referring now to the construction of themvention, straps ti and 54 are molded of a substance whichis flexible and non-hygroscopic. In

the molding processes the edges of straps 4| and 54 are formed to provide a knife-like edge 68. The insides of the straps 4| and 54 which rest against the face of the wearer are given a fine pebble-like surface the purpose of which is to provid a certain amount of ventilation and thus reduce perspiration by reason of close contact of the straps ll and 54 with the face. The microphone bracket Figure 3 is so designed that the extrusions 64, (is grip the shoulder 12 of the microphone Figure 7. The extended portions SI of the microphone bracket Figure 3 are inserted in the pockets 5|, 5| of straps 4| and 54 and cemented therein. After the straps 4| and 54 and microphone bracket Figure 3 are assembled as indicated in Figure 5 the exposed conductors 33 of the cable 46 are soldered to the terminals iii and H of the microphone Figure 7. The microphone Figure 7 is then snapped into the microphone bracket 62,.as illustrated 'in Figure 6. The harness is placed over the face of the wearer (as shownin Figure 8) by slipping the loops 43, 52 (Figures 1 and 2) over the ears, said loops being enlarged in circumference for this purpose by pulling the loops throughthe orifices 44, 55. The harness may then be secured by decreasing the circumference of each loop 43, 52 by pulling downward on the coverings, 45, 56.

The ultimate result of this invention is to provide a microphone harness of such lightness, adjustability, and flexibility that it may be readily adapted to a large number of applications which are familiar to those versed in the art.

While there has been described what is at the present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims-to cover all such changes and modification-s as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. .A harness, designed to support a microphone, comprising a pair of light weight straps of flexible material having loops for supporting the harness on the ears of the wearer, each of said loops includinga length of flexible cord fastened at one end to one of the straps and having an enlarged stopper at the other end, means to adjustably secure an intermediate portion of each of the cords to each of the straps so as to form a bight in each cord between its said fastened end and its said intermediate portion, which bight is adjustable in length, a bracketadapted to support the said microphone, and means for joining the two straps to the bracket.

2. A harness, designed to support a microphone, comprising a pair of straps of flexible material having loops for supporting the harness on the ears of the wearer, each of said loops including a length of flexible cord fastened at one end to one of the straps and having an 'enlarged stopper atthe other end, means to adjustably secure an intermediate portion of each of the cords to each of the straps so as to -form a bight in each cord between its said fastened end and its said intermediate portion which bight is adjustable in length, a bracket adapted to support the said microphone, and means for joining the-two straps to the bracket.

3. A harness, designed to support a microphone, comprising a pair of light weight straps for supporting the harness on the ears. of ".the wearer, each strap being provided with'a length of flexible cord fastened at one end to one of the straps and having an enlarged stopper at the other end, means to adiustably secure an intermediate portion of each of the cords to each of the straps so as to form a bight in each cord between its said fastened end and its said intermediate portion which bight is adjustable in length, a bracket adapted to support the said microphone, and means for joining the two straps to the bracket.

4. A harness, designed to support a microphone, comprising a pair of straps for supporting the harness on the ears of the wearer, each strap being provided with a length of flexible cord fastened at one end to one of the straps and having an enlarged stopper at the other end, means to adjustably secure an intermediate portion of each of the cords to each of the straps so as to form a bight in each cord between its said fastened end and its said intermediate portion which bight is adjustable in length, a bracket adapted to support the said microphone, and means for joining the two straps to the bracket.

5. A microphone harness which can be worn on the face when suspended from the ears of the wearer constructed of flexible material comprising left and right straps, a microphone bracket sustained by said straps, left and right circumferentially adjustable loops attached to said straps respectively which permit tension to be applied to said straps, each of said loops including a length of flexible cord fastened at one end to one of the straps and having an enlarged stopper at the other end, means to adjustably secure an intermediate portion of each of the cords to each of the straps so as to form a bight in each cord between its said fastened end and its said intermediate portion which bight is adjustable in length,

6. A microphone supporting harness comprising a pair of straps of flexible non-hygroscopic material, loops of similar material adjustable in circumference to the wearer to apply tension to the straps, each of said loops including a length of flexible cord fastened at one end to one of the straps and having an enlarged stopper at the other end, means to adjustably secure an intermediate portion of each of the cords to each of the strap so as to form a bight in each cord between its said fastened end and its said intermediate portion Which bight is adjustable in length, and a microphone bracket to which said straps are attached.

7. A harness to hold an electrical device close to a persons face, comprising two loops adapted to fit around the ears respectively, each such loop being adjustable in circumference so as to allow it to be placed over one ear and to be tightened while positioned thereon, a strap joining said loops, means on said strap to support an electrical device, each such loop including a length of cord fastened at one end to the strap and having an enlarged stopper at the other end, means to adjustably secure an intermediate portion of each of said cords to the strap so as to form in each cord a bight between its said fastened end and its said intermediate portion which bight is adjustable in length.

8. A harness to sustain a microphone close to a wearer's upper lip comprising a strap member of flexible material, adapted to encircle the wearers left ear and extend across the wearers left cheek from the left ear to the vicinity of the left end of the upper lip, said strap being provided with three arms extending respectively substantially toward the upper portion of the left ear, the lower portion of the left ear and the left end of the upper lip, there being an aperture through the arm extending toward the lower portion of the left ear, said strap member also being provided with a cord, one end of which is secured to the arm extending toward the upper portion of the left ear and the other end of which is provided with an enlarged stopper, and the central portion of which runs through the aperture aforesaid, the stopper keeping said cord from running completely through said aperture; a second similar strap member, adapted to extend across the wearers right cheek; a microphone bracket, secured to the arms extending toward the upper lip of the two strap members aforesaid, and adapted to sustain a microphone close to the upper lip; the harness being positioned over the wearers face by placing the cords over the wearers ears respectively and being adjustable to the wearer by pulling on the stoppers so as to shorten the length of cord extending about each ear.

HERMAN C. HOBNICKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,897,833 Benway Feb. 14, 1933 2,045,404 Nicholides June 23, 1936 2,062,373 Nicholides Dec. 1, 1936 2,151,706 Lieber Mar. 28, 1939 2,207,705 Cox July 16, 1940 2,249,572 Lieber July 15, 1941 2,356,209 Brilhart Aug. 22, 1944 1,581,882 Stace Apr. 20, 1926 2,242,118 Fischer May 13, 1941 2,255,249 Greibach Sept. 9, 1941 

